Good fortune must be in the air on Frankfort Avenue. For a time now it has held its own against the established Bardstown Road royalty. Tonight Basa Modern Vietnamese exemplified how Frankfort Avenue is rising above even the lofty expectations of the Bardstown Road court. My wife and I shared in that good fortune by finally dining at Basa. It was full of noisy bonhomie on our arrival and all seats were taken. The very friendly hostess suggested, if we didn't mind, that we could dine at the long communal table. Like the lord and lady of the manor we arrayed ourselves at the head of a long table set for at least 14 people.
We started with salads. The Basa organic mixed greens with pears, pistachios and lemon oil for me and my bride had one of the special salads for the evening: Heirloom tomatoes, shaved bacon, organic mixed greens finished with a 50 year old balsamic vinegar reduction. My salad was good with the pears and pistachios blending well. I knew I should have gone with the tomato salad when my wife ceased all conversation with a look of rapture on her face. She said it was comparable to the delicious BLT sandwiches she had as a child with tomatoes fresh from her garden. Yep, that good.
Shaking Beef for both of us as an entree. Perfectly rare to medium rare bite size cubes of filet were laid on a bed of watercress. Organic cherry tomatoes, red onions and garlic surrounded the plate. The juice from the steak melded with the onion and garlic creating a delicious brown reduction. Outstanding presentation gave way to even better flavor. Sticky jasmine rice came on the side.
Dessert was a Lime tart with lemongrass meringue drizzled with mint gastrique. The sugar in the gastrique having a faint dark tone as of sorghum, a perfect foil for the sweet tartness of the lime. It reminded us of the best Key Lime Pie from our honeymoon. Better with the addition of the other flavors. Incredible.
Steven Ton is a very pleasant gentleman host and was most gracious in answering my questions about the meal. He is very pleased with the move to Louisville and commented on the friendliness of the people here. He and his brother Michael Ton make it very easy to be friendly. We look forward to a return visit very soon.
Walking out to our car we passed Zen Garden next door which put me in mind of our good fortune. As the Zen philosopher Mumon wrote:
"You cannot describe it or draw it. You cannot praise it enough or perceive it. No place can be found to put the invisible face; it will not disappear even when the universe is destroyed."